I need help.

[durhamleft]

Hello friends. I've been posting for a while and I think I know how I feel about the world, but I can't put my finger on what I think the right way to go about it is (ie. which ideology to embrace).

I am absolutely sure that the way things are now isn't right. I know that people shouldn't be earning millions while others are starving. I know its not a 'natural order' or whatever bollocks right-wingers spout, but I also don't think a world without any business would be good.. I think that some people should earn more than others; if you work hard all your life then sure, I think you deserve a higher standard of living than someone who fucks about, but at the same time I think the disparity between those incomes should be little (how the fuck do we have a situation where a cleaner earns £10k a year and a chief executive £10m?

I think what I'm after is a world-wide system where firms are allowed to grow, and develop, but are under strict government control, where there is a maximum and minimum wage within close distances of one another... where there is social equality and not just racial etc.

I find it difficult to express my thoughts entirely, because I know what we have is so so wrong, yet there is nothing that I look at and say 'yes, they've got it right'.
I always think that most people know we've got it wrong deep down, like when you see TV programmes about aliens, they always have a system where they are on a level footing of some sort... You don't see some higher intelligence aliens in super yachts while the others are starving... but I dunno...

If anyone can point me in the direction I need I'd be grateful, 'cos I'm sure Marxism and such things aren't the complete answer we're all looking for.

[ContrarianLemming]

No one but you can make this descision.

[Broletariat]

Have you read many books on the subject? Perhaps you should start with a few of the basics liek the ABCs of Anarchy and the ABCs of Communism and the like.

[durhamleft]

Have you read many books on the subject? Perhaps you should start with a few of the basics liek the ABCs of Anarchy and the ABCs of Communism and the like.

I've read some stuff on the internet on Anarchism, and a guide to basic Anarchism and communism. For communism I've read the Manifesto and Das Kapital, but I'm having an absolute nightmare.

I think I might just call myself a left-winger and over time see if I get leant towards a certain persuasion, and if not I'll start my own one!

[Broletariat]

I've read some stuff on the internet on Anarchism, and a guide to basic Anarchism and communism. For communism I've read the Manifesto and Das Kapital, but I'm having an absolute nightmare.

I think I might just call myself a left-winger and over time see if I get leant towards a certain persuasion, and if not I'll start my own one!
Whoa wait you've read all of Das Kapital?

[redSHARP]

i dont consider myself under any label, just mix and match and see what works; there's no pressure to fit in with the trotskies, anarchist, or whom ever, just take your time and we will be here to anwser any question.

[Hiratsuka]

IF you're envisioning a world of minimal wealth disparity between commercial firms, you may be interested in mutualism. I can't provide links until I make 25 posts, but Google will provide you ample sources. Take your time and just digest your thoughts. No one will ever be right about everything, and two people can both be right.

[redSHARP]

smartest thing i have heard in a while^^^

[graymouser]

I think what I'm after is a world-wide system where firms are allowed to grow, and develop, but are under strict government control, where there is a maximum and minimum wage within close distances of one another... where there is social equality and not just racial etc.
If that's the case, I think you are a social democrat - and if you're in the USA, you would probably be best off with Democratic Socialists of America or the Socialist Party USA (the latter is stronger on electoral independence and has a mix of revolutionary and not-so-revolutionary socialists; the former is more solid in its reformism and supports the Democratic Party). Elsewhere there are strong social democratic parties that you can probably find co-thinkers in.

Why do you think that the scenario you outline above is possible? Existing wealth disparities and the continued need of capital to expand would put tremendous pressure on, and probably destroy, any effective regulatory model you could put in place; it certainly has in the case of Europe where many old social democratic parties have had to enact neoliberal agendas in government.

[Blake's Baby]

Yeah, I Grey Mouser is about right. You can call yourself a 'socialist' without too much trouble. I think it's inaccurate, but I doubt you'll get much of an argument, as the main 'socialist' groups actually advocate those kinds of measures. Not the SPGB though; they're different.

You might find however that The People's Republic of Durham is a hotbed of factional intrigue - the Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Workers' Party, Socialist Party of England and Wales and even the Socialist Party of Great Britain have or have had organisations in the area (hell there may even be supporters of the Scottish Socialist Party) so you may be quizzed quite hard on exactly what faction of 'socialism' you support...

[Taikand]

You can always join the heterodox current known as Non-doctrinaire Communism.

[Blake's Baby]

I got the feeling that DL meant in the real world.

Oh, and he's not a communist (or, are you really that non-doctrinaire?)